Published: February 6, 2026

A years-long saga involving three large apartment buildings near Shaker Square has shone a spotlight on one of Cleveland’s most persistent housing challenges: out-of-town investors who purchase aging properties and allow them to fall into disrepair, putting tenants — and especially children — at serious risk of lead exposure.

The Problem With Absentee Ownership

In early 2022, a group of New York-based investors purchased three apartment buildings at 12500, 12600, and 12701 Shaker Boulevard for $12.4 million. What followed was a cascade of deterioration that tenants say left them living with broken elevators, no heat during winter months, persistent water leaks, mold growth, and over 100 housing code violations documented by the City of Cleveland.

The buildings, managed remotely through a web of LLCs, exemplify a troubling pattern across Cleveland’s East Side. When landlords operate from hundreds of miles away through shell companies, accountability becomes nearly impossible. City officials struggled for months just to make contact with the owners, and Ward 4 Council Member Deborah Gray eventually had to travel to New York in person to demand a meeting.

Why This Is a Lead Safety Crisis

These Shaker Boulevard buildings were constructed in the early 20th century — well before the 1978 federal ban on lead-based paint. When properties of this age are neglected, peeling and deteriorating paint creates lead dust that settles on floors, windowsills, and surfaces where young children play and put their hands in their mouths. Water damage and mold — both rampant in these buildings according to city inspectors — accelerate the breakdown of lead paint, turning a manageable hazard into an active poisoning risk.

Cleveland’s lead poisoning crisis remains stubbornly persistent. In 2024, over 1,300 children in Cleveland were found to have elevated blood lead levels. The city’s 2019 Lead Safe Ordinance requires landlords to obtain lead-safe certificates for rental properties, but enforcement has struggled to keep pace with demand. A recent change requiring more rigorous inspections created a nearly 60-day application backlog, and the city has acknowledged it is not yet on track to meet its lead-safe housing goals.

Properties like the Shaker Boulevard apartments — large, pre-1978 buildings with dozens of units and neglectful management — represent some of the highest-risk environments for childhood lead exposure in the city.

Community Advocacy Makes the Difference

The Morelands Group, a grassroots neighborhood organization formed in 2021 to advocate for renters in the Shaker Square area, played a critical role in pushing the city to take action. The group spent years documenting conditions, lobbying officials, and supporting tenants who were afraid to speak up. Their work helped lead to the city’s landmark lawsuit against the property owners in 2023.

Cleveland Housing Court Judge W. Mona Scott took the unusual step of sentencing the corporate landlord to probation and banning the sale of the properties until repairs were made — a legal maneuver the landlord’s attorneys challenged on appeal, arguing a company cannot be placed on probation like an individual.

The case was ultimately resolved in late 2025 when a new buyer proposed more than $20 million in investment, including $5.1 million specifically for repairs and renovations. By that point, the 249-unit complex was only about 40% occupied — a stark indicator of how badly the previous ownership had failed its tenants.

What Landlords and Property Owners Need to Know

Cleveland’s enforcement posture toward negligent landlords has shifted dramatically. The city is now issuing code violation tickets — a faster enforcement tool approved in 2024 — and has committed $1 million through a federal pilot program to help tenants organize and understand their rights. Organizations like the Morelands Group, the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, and Cleveland State University are part of this effort.

For landlords who want to do the right thing, compliance starts with understanding the lead hazards in your property. Cleveland’s Lead Safe Ordinance requires lead-safe certification for all rental units built before 1978. A proper lead risk assessment identifies where hazards exist so they can be addressed before a child is harmed.

At PbFree Ohio, we provide comprehensive lead testing services — including XRF inspections, dust wipe sampling, and full risk assessments — to help property owners identify and manage lead hazards. Whether you own a single rental unit or a large apartment complex, getting your property tested is the first step toward protecting your tenants and staying compliant with Cleveland’s evolving lead safety requirements.

The Bigger Picture

The Shaker Square story is not an isolated incident. Signal Cleveland’s reporting has traced over 160 properties bought and sold by just one out-of-town investment company in Cleveland, and the pattern of purchase, neglect, and eventual legal intervention repeats across neighborhoods. As the city continues to strengthen its enforcement tools and tenant advocacy infrastructure, landlords who ignore lead safety and housing code obligations face growing legal and financial consequences.

Every child deserves a safe home. If you are a landlord, property manager, or tenant with concerns about lead paint in a Cleveland rental property, contact PbFree Ohio at 216-452-0881 or visit pbfreeohio.com to schedule a consultation.

Sources: This post draws on reporting by Signal Cleveland, Signal Cleveland (City Lawsuit), Cleveland Scene, and Cleveland City Council.